Drug Makers Raise Prices in Face of Health Care Reform

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Even as drug makers promise to support Washington’s health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation’s drug costs after the legislation takes effect, the industry has been raising its prices at the fastest rate in years.

In the last year, the industry has raised the wholesale prices of brand-name prescription drugs by about 9 percent, according to industry analysts. That will add more than $10 billion to the nation’s drug bill, which is on track to exceed $300 billion this year.

By at least one analysis, it is the highest annual rate of inflation for drug prices since 1992.

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Just as credit card companies increase rates before new restrictive laws take place

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